The African Tribune

Diomaye Faye’s decisive nod to Macky Sall’s UN ambitions Three days after welcoming him at the Palais de la République, Senegal’s president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, made a bold diplomatic choice: his government would provide full and unwavering support to Macky Sall’s candidacy for United Nations Secretary-General. While this endorsement carries weight, its impact on the final outcome remains uncertain. This decision signals a clear shift from personal tensions to national interest. Days before his election, Diomaye Faye was released from Cap Manuel prison, where he had been held since April 2023 under charges tied to the repression of Ousmane Sonko’s movement. His swift liberation—just ten days before the vote—came through a presidential pardon granted amid pre-election turmoil. Sonko, h...

The President of Gabon, General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, has just wrapped up a landmark three-day state visit to France, where high-stakes negotiations redefined the future of bilateral ties. At the heart of the discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron were two pivotal issues: reshaping the military presence at Camp de Gaulle and accelerating Gabon’s vision for local transformation of its manganese industry. This diplomatic initiative signals a clear shift—a Gabonese approach that rejects both blind submission and abrupt rupture, instead forging a partnership rooted in mutual reinvention. Camp de Gaulle: From colonial relic to sovereign hub The future of the Camp de Gaulle military base, home to the Éléments français au Gabon (EFG), was at the top of the agenda. Once a symbo...

Three days after welcoming Macky Sall at the presidential palace in Dakar, Bassirou Diomaye Faye officially announced on July 20 the full support of Senegal for his predecessor’s candidacy for United Nations Secretary-General. This decision mobilized the entire diplomatic apparatus and framed the bid as a national priority. Yet, the reversal comes after reservations expressed in March and Senegal’s earlier opposition within the African Union, which had weakened Macky Sall’s diplomatic position. With this strategic move, Bassirou Diomaye Faye strengthens Macky Sall’s dossier, allowing him to claim the backing of the state he once led for twelve years. But what motivated Senegal’s president to make this about-face? Could this decision further strain relations ...